1. Privacy at a Glance

General Information

The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data is any data by which you can be personally identified. For detailed information on the subject of data protection, please refer to our privacy policy listed below.

Data Collection on This Website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the "Notice on the Responsible Party" section of this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected in part by you providing it to us — for example, data you enter into a contact form.

Other data is collected automatically or with your consent when you visit the website by our IT systems. This is primarily technical data (e.g., internet browser, operating system, or time of page access). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter this website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure the error-free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyze your user behavior.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right at any time to obtain free information about the origin, recipients, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request the correction or deletion of this data. If you have given your consent to data processing, you may revoke that consent at any time for the future. You also have the right, under certain circumstances, to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

You may contact us at any time regarding these and other questions on the subject of data protection.

Analysis Tools and Third-Party Tools

When you visit this website, your browsing behavior may be statistically analyzed, primarily using analysis programs. Detailed information on these programs can be found in the following privacy policy.

2. Hosting

IONOS

We host our website with IONOS SE. The provider is IONOS SE, Elgendorfer Str. 57, 56410 Montabaur, Germany (hereinafter: IONOS). When you visit our website, IONOS collects various log files including your IP addresses. For details, please refer to IONOS's privacy policy: https://www.ionos.de/terms-gtc/terms-privacy.

The use of IONOS is based on Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in the most reliable presentation of our website possible. Where consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) GDPR and Section 25(1) TTDSG, insofar as consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user's device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Order Processing

We have entered into a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with the above-mentioned provider. This is a legally required contract that ensures the provider processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General Information and Mandatory Disclosures

Data Protection

The operators of these pages take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data by which you can be personally identified. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and how we use it, as well as the purpose for which this is done.

Please note that data transmission over the internet (e.g., when communicating by email) may be subject to security vulnerabilities. Complete protection of data from access by third parties is not possible.

Notice on the Responsible Party

The party responsible for data processing on this website is:

Vertical Farm Tech GmbH
Seubertstraße 10
76131 Karlsruhe, Germany

Phone: +49 721 467 178 90
Email: info@vertical-farm.tech

The responsible party is the natural or legal person who, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of processing personal data (e.g., names, email addresses, etc.).

Retention Period

Unless a more specific retention period has been specified within this privacy policy, your personal data will remain with us until the purpose for which it was collected no longer applies. If you assert a legitimate request for deletion or revoke your consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible reasons for retaining your personal data (e.g., tax or commercial retention periods); in the latter case, deletion will occur after those reasons cease to apply.

Legal Bases for Data Processing on This Website

Where you have given consent to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) GDPR or Article 9(2)(a) GDPR if special categories of data within the meaning of Article 9(1) GDPR are processed. Where data processing is necessary for the performance of a contract or for pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Article 6(1)(b) GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data where required to fulfill a legal obligation under Article 6(1)(c) GDPR. Data processing may also be carried out on the basis of our legitimate interests under Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. The relevant legal bases applicable in each individual case are set out in the following sections of this privacy policy.

Notice on Data Transfers to the USA and Other Third Countries

We use tools from companies based in the USA or other third countries that are not considered safe from a data protection perspective. When these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to and processed in those third countries. Please note that no level of data protection comparable to that in the EU can be guaranteed in those countries. For example, US companies are obligated to disclose personal data to security authorities without you as the data subject being able to take legal action against this. It cannot therefore be ruled out that US authorities (e.g., intelligence agencies) may process, evaluate, and permanently store your data located on US servers for surveillance purposes. We have no influence over these processing activities.

Revoking Your Consent to Data Processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You may revoke any consent you have already given at any time. The lawfulness of data processing carried out prior to the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to Object to Data Collection in Special Cases and to Direct Marketing (Article 21 GDPR)

Where data processing is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(e) or (f) GDPR, you have the right at any time to object to the processing of your personal data on grounds arising from your particular situation; this also applies to profiling based on those provisions. The respective legal basis on which processing is based can be found in this privacy policy. If you object, we will no longer process your affected personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override your interests, rights, and freedoms, or the processing serves the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims (objection under Article 21(1) GDPR).

Where your personal data is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for such marketing; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing. If you object, your personal data will subsequently no longer be used for direct marketing purposes (objection under Article 21(2) GDPR).

Right to Lodge a Complaint with the Competent Supervisory Authority

In the event of breaches of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, place of work, or place of the alleged breach. The right to lodge a complaint exists without prejudice to other administrative or judicial remedies.

Right to Data Portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfillment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a commonly used, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be done to the extent technically feasible.

Access, Deletion, and Rectification

Within the framework of applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to obtain free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients, and the purpose of data processing, and, where applicable, the right to have this data corrected or deleted. You may contact us at any time for this and other questions on the subject of personal data.

Right to Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. You may contact us at any time for this purpose. The right to restriction of processing applies in the following cases:

• If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored with us, we generally need time to verify this. For the duration of the review, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.
• If the processing of your personal data was/is unlawful, you may request the restriction of data processing instead of deletion.
• If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it to exercise, defend, or establish legal claims, you have the right to request restriction of processing instead of deletion.
• If you have lodged an objection under Article 21(1) GDPR, a balancing of your and our interests must be carried out. As long as it has not yet been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.

Where processing of your personal data has been restricted, such data may — apart from being stored — only be processed with your consent or for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims, or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person, or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

Objection to Promotional Emails

We hereby object to the use of contact data published in connection with our legal notice obligation for the purpose of sending unsolicited advertising and informational materials. The operators of this website expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of unsolicited sending of advertising information, such as spam emails.

4. Data Collection on This Website

Cookies

Our website uses so-called "cookies." Cookies are small text files and do not cause any damage to your device. They are stored either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (persistent cookies) on your device. Session cookies are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Persistent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them yourself or until they are automatically deleted by your web browser.

In some cases, cookies from third-party companies may also be stored on your device when you visit our website (third-party cookies). These enable us or you to use certain services of the third-party company (e.g., cookies for processing payment services).

Cookies serve various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary, as certain website functions would not work without them (e.g., the shopping cart function or the display of videos). Other cookies are used to evaluate user behavior or display advertising.

Cookies that are required for carrying out the electronic communication process, for providing certain functions that you have requested (e.g., for the shopping cart function), or for optimizing the website (e.g., cookies for measuring web audience) (necessary cookies) are stored on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. Where consent to the storage of cookies and comparable recognition technologies has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of that consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR and Section 25(1) TTDSG); consent may be revoked at any time.

You can configure your browser to notify you about the setting of cookies and to allow cookies only on a case-by-case basis, to exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general, and to activate the automatic deletion of cookies when you close your browser. If cookies are disabled, the functionality of this website may be limited.

Where cookies from third-party companies or for analytical purposes are used, we will inform you separately within this privacy policy and, where applicable, request your consent.

Contact Form

If you submit inquiries to us via the contact form, your information from the inquiry form, including the contact details you provided there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the inquiry and in the event of follow-up questions. We do not share this data without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Article 6(1)(b) GDPR, insofar as your inquiry is related to the performance of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of inquiries directed to us (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR) or on your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR) if this has been requested.

The data you enter in the contact form will remain with us until you request its deletion, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after your inquiry has been fully processed). Mandatory statutory provisions — in particular retention periods — remain unaffected.

Inquiries by Email, Phone, or Fax

If you contact us by email, phone, or fax, your inquiry, including all resulting personal data (name, inquiry), will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of handling your request. We do not share this data without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Article 6(1)(b) GDPR, insofar as your inquiry is related to the performance of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of inquiries directed to us (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR) or on your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR) if this has been requested.

The data you send us via contact inquiries will remain with us until you request its deletion, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after your request has been fully processed). Mandatory statutory provisions — in particular statutory retention periods — remain unaffected.

5. Analysis Tools and Advertising

WordPress Statistics

This website uses "WordPress Statistics" to statistically evaluate visitor access. The provider is Aut O'Mattic A8C Ireland Ltd., Business Centre, No. 1 Lower Mayor Street, International Financial Services Centre, Dublin 1, Ireland, whose parent company is based in the USA.

WordPress Statistics uses technologies that enable user recognition for the purpose of analyzing user behavior (e.g., cookies or device fingerprinting). WordPress Statistics collects, among other things, log files (referrer, IP address, browser, etc.), the origin of website visitors (country, city), and actions they have taken on the page (e.g., clicks, views, downloads). The information collected about the use of this website is stored on servers in the USA. Your IP address is anonymized after processing and before storage.

The use of this analysis tool is based on Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the anonymized analysis of user behavior in order to optimize both its web offering and its advertising. Where consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) GDPR and Section 25(1) TTDSG, insofar as consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user's device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the Standard Contractual Clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://automattic.com/de/privacy/.

WP Statistics

This website uses the analysis tool WP Statistics to statistically evaluate visitor access. The provider is Veronalabs, ARENCO Tower, 27th Floor, Dubai Media City, Dubai 23816, UAE (https://veronalabs.com).

WP Statistics allows us to analyze the use of our website. WP Statistics collects, among other things, log files (IP address, referrer, browsers used, origin of users, search engines used) and actions taken by website visitors on the page (e.g., clicks and views).

The data collected by WP Statistics is stored exclusively on our own server.

The use of this analysis tool is based on Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in the anonymized analysis of user behavior in order to optimize both our web offering and our advertising. Where consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) GDPR and Section 25(1) TTDSG, insofar as consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user's device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Real Cookie Banner

To manage the cookies and similar technologies used (tracking pixels, web beacons, etc.) and related consents, we use the consent tool "Real Cookie Banner". Details on how "Real Cookie Banner" works can be found at https://devowl.io/rcb/data-processing/.

The legal basis for the processing of personal data in this context are Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR and Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. Our legitimate interest is the management of the cookies and similar technologies used and the related consents.

The provision of personal data is neither contractually required nor necessary for the conclusion of a contract. You are not obliged to provide the personal data. If you do not provide the personal data, we will not be able to manage your consents.

6. Newsletter

Newsletter Data

If you wish to receive the newsletter offered on the website, we require an email address from you as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the email address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter. No further data is collected, or only on a voluntary basis. We use this data exclusively for sending the requested information and do not share it with third parties.

The processing of data entered in the newsletter registration form is carried out exclusively on the basis of your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). You may revoke your consent to the storage of the data, the email address, and its use for sending the newsletter at any time, for example via the "Unsubscribe" link in the newsletter. The lawfulness of data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data you provide for the purpose of receiving the newsletter will be stored by us or the newsletter service provider until you unsubscribe from the newsletter, and will be deleted from the newsletter distribution list after you unsubscribe or after the purpose ceases to apply. We reserve the right to delete or block email addresses from our newsletter distribution list at our own discretion within the scope of our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) GDPR.

Data stored by us for other purposes remains unaffected.

After your removal from the newsletter distribution list, your email address may be stored by us or the newsletter service provider in a blocklist, if this is necessary to prevent future mailings. The data from the blocklist is used solely for this purpose and is not merged with other data. This serves both your interest and our interest in complying with legal requirements when sending newsletters (legitimate interest within the meaning of Article 6(1)(f) GDPR). Storage in the blocklist is not subject to a time limit. You may object to the storage if your interests override our legitimate interest.